WHEN THE BRONCOS HAVE THE BALL

The Chargers know a great deal about Peyton Manning and the creative offense he directs.

Mike McCoy coached Manning for 10 months last year and trained Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase from 2009-12. Ron Milus, San Diego’s secondary coach and a former Broncos aide, saw Denver’s offense behind the scenes the last two years. In Manning’s initial four NFL seasons, Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano was a defensive aide on those Colts teams.

Manning, described by Philip Rivers as “probably the best guy that ever played (quarterback),” is 37 years old yet still nimble within the pocket when healthy. He injured his right ankle last month. In a few games leading up to Denver’s bye week, which ended last Sunday, the gimpy ankle may have affected his push-off, causing deep passes to squirt from his hand.

He finds the open pass-catcher among a varied group that includes shifty Wes Welker, tall-and-fast tight end Julius Thomas (nursing an ankle injury) and two 6-foot-3 receivers, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.

“He goes through his progressions the best, if you can say that, of any quarterback,” Chargers safety Eric Weddle said.

Yet Manning has absorbed several direct hits since losing his blindside protector, tackle Ryan Clady, in Week 2. Clady was not only an elite performer, his teamwork with left guard Zane Beadles was exceptional. Defenses are attacking with stunts that Clady was quicker to read than his replacement, undrafted Chris Clark, a converted tight end.

Protection breakdowns led to Denver’s only loss. In the Week 7 defeat — 39-33 — Colts edge rusher Robert Mathis beat Clark to create a game-changing safety. The backside hit came 3.1 seconds after the snap and after Manning had darted to his right.

Mathis leads the NFL in sacks with 11.5. Lacking no one of Mathis’ caliber, the Chargers nevertheless need to disrupt Manning. “It’s always important to get in his face, hit him as much as possible,” Weddle said.